Sunday, September 16, 2012

Chui Huay Lim Teochew Cuisine 醉花林 inside the Chui Huay Lim Club

醉花林 Chui Huay Lim Teochew Cuisine is a dining concept belonging to the Jumbo Group of Restaurants. The restaurant is aptly located inside the Chui Huay Lim Club, a Teochew club established in 1845 by Teochew businessmen to engage in business networking and recreational activities. I was impressed with the well maintained Chinese Arch entrance as we entered the Teochew club.

The restaurant resides on the first floor of the club house alongside the latest Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh outlet that is operated by the Jumbo Group. Interior of the restaurant is modern but still maintaining the Chinese heritage by the use of Chinese murals, musical instruments as decoration and calligraphy to line the walls. I decided to bring Dad here for his birthday dinner after getting feedback from my cousin.

潮洲冻蟹 Teochew Cold Crab needs to be pre ordered like their suckling pig. The highlight of the Teochew Cold Crab is the crab roe that mum and dad love but that's something that we only indulge them only once in a while. Need to watch those cholesterol levels. As much as I would like to order the suckling pig, I knew we wouldn't be able to handle too much food. That will be for next time!

醉花林潮洲拼盘 Chui Huay Lim Classic Teochew Platter is a typical platter available in Teochew restaurant. Items include braised goose, marinated chilled jellyfish, deep fried liver rolls and fried ngoh hiang rolls. The ngoh hiang was peppery and all of us liked it. The gamey liver rolls and the tender braised goose was delicious. Dad thought that the chilled jellyfish wasn't as crunchy as he liked.

潮蒸午鱼尾 Teochew Style Steamed Threadfin Tail was the Teochew style steamed fish that we chose over the more standard steamed pomfret. The threadfin tail was tender and had very thick meat. The soup was tasty and would go very well with white rice.

潮洲海鲜干炒面线 Teochew Seafood Fried Mee Sua was the staple for us. When fried properly, mee sua's texture is much refined (softer but not marshy) to the bite than the bee hoon. This was good but nothing too extraordinary.

Can't leave a Teochew restaurant without 芋泥 Teochew Yam Paste "Orh Nee. The yam paste was smooth. The pumpkin and gingko gave a multiplexing taste of sweetness when you bite on a bit of gingko and/or pumpkin together with the yam paste.